“Submarines,” FAS Weapons of Mass Destruction, 19 June 2000. Frantzman, “Training with dolphins: The next generation of Israel's submarine fleet,” The Jerusalem Post,,. In January 2021, a German prosecutor closed the case citing “no sufficient suspicion of criminal offenses against specific domestic persons.” Several close associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are suspected of receiving bribes as part of the state purchase of submarines from ThyssenKrupp. In late 2016, allegations of corruption surfaced in relation to the deal. In March 2012, Israel placed an order with ThyssenKrupp for a sixth vessel, costing a reported $2 billion. In November 2005, the outgoing German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder approved the sale of the fourth and fifth Dolphin-class submarines for a total of $1.17 billion, with a third of this cost to be financed by the German government. HDW, now a part of ThyssenKurpp Marine Systems (TKMS), designed and constructed Israel’s submarine fleet. The submarines are equipped with four enlarged 650mm torpedo tubes which lead to much speculation that the Israelis intend to outfit the submarines with nuclear-armed cruise missiles. Reports dictate that these vessels have a maximum speed of 25 knots and a range of 4,500km. They have an AIP system which allows the vessels to travel extremely quietly and to remain submerged for up to a week without surfacing. The modernized Dolphin II-class vessels instead run on a conventional diesel led-acid battery system. Their weapons systems are capable of firing torpedoes. They can remain submerged for 30 days without surfacing. The older Dolphin-class are 57.3 meters long with a 6.8-meter-wide beam and can travel up to 20 knots when submerged. Three of the five are old Dolphin type vessels. Israel currently possesses five Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines. These new submarines are expected to be completed around 2027 and will replace the older three Dolphin submarines. Moreover, in 2016 Israel and Germany signed an agreement for three additional Dolphin II-class submarines. This submarine, the INS Dragon, is said to be capable of carrying nuclear missiles. HDW was scheduled to deliver a sixth modern diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarine to Israel by 2020, however delivery of the submarine has not been confirmed. Experts disagree on whether Israel adapted Harpoon cruise missiles to carry an indigenously developed nuclear warhead or if it modified the Gabriel 4LR anti-ship missile. However, the Israeli Defense Forces have consistently denied any such missile tests. Navy observed Israeli missile tests in the Indian Ocean in 2000, and that the Dolphin-class vessels have been fitted with nuclear-capable cruise missiles of a new design. State Department and Pentagon officials confirmed that the U.S. However, German officials such as former Head of the Policy Planning Staff of the German Ministry of Defense Hans Rühle, have stated that they assumed Israel intended to equip the submarines with nuclear weapons. The German government has refused to comment on modifying the Dolphin-class submarines delivered to Israel to fit cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads. There is consistent speculation that Israel's submarines have been refitted to carry missiles armed with nuclear weapons for the country to maintain a survivable second-strike option. The INS Tanin was commissioned in September 2014 and the INS Rahav was commissioned in 2016. The fourth and fifth submarines, agreed to in 2006, are advanced Dolphin-class vessels equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP). Germany donated two of these vessels but split the cost of the third with Israel. īetween 19, Israel commissioned three Dolphin class submarines from German company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). The Gal-class vessels were a modified Type 206A coastal submarine. After the S-class, the Israeli Navy depended upon three Gal-class submarines, designed by Germany for Israel, and constructed at the Vickers Shipyard in the United Kingdom between 19. Israel utilized these submarines in its wars with Lebanon from 1967 to the 1980s, but the vessels were noisy and barely fit in the Mediterranean Sea. Israel first acquired two British S-class submarines in the late 1950s. Nuclear-Powered attack submarines (SSNs): 0ĭiesel-electric attack submarines ( SSKs): 5Īir-independent propulsion ( AIP) enabled: 2/5 All were designed and constructed by Germany's Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW). Based at Haifa, the Israeli Navy (IN) currently operates five modern diesel-electric Dolphin-class submarines.
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